Repotting guide

When & how to repot Tuscan Blue Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus 'Tuscan Blue')

Also called Tuscan Blue rosemary, upright rosemary.

More about tuscan blue rosemary

About Tuscan Blue Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus 'Tuscan Blue' · also called Tuscan Blue rosemary, upright rosemary · herb

'Tuscan Blue' is a vigorous, strongly upright rosemary with broad aromatic needles and rich blue flowers, popular for hedging and as a culinary herb. A woody Mediterranean evergreen shrub, it craves full sun and sharp drainage, tolerates drought and poor soil, and dislikes nothing more than cold, wet roots over winter.

Mature size: 1.5-2 m tall and 0.6-1 m wide (5-7 ft tall, 2-3 ft wide)

Watch for — Root rot from wet soil: The leading killer of rosemary. Cold, wet, poorly drained soil rots the roots; plant in gritty, free-draining ground and water sparingly, especially in winter.

How to tell tuscan blue rosemary needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For tuscan blue rosemary, watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot tuscan blue rosemary

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Tuscan Blue Rosemary's growth habit — a vigorous, strongly upright evergreen woody shrub with stiff vertical stems clothed in aromatic blue-green needle-like leaves; bears clear blue two-lipped flowers chiefly in spring, much loved by bees. one of the tallest, most erect rosemary forms. — sets the pace. 'Tuscan Blue' is a vigorous, strongly upright rosemary with broad aromatic needles and rich blue flowers, popular for hedging and as a culinary herb. A woody Mediterranean evergreen shrub, it craves full sun and sharp drainage, tolerates drought and poor soil, and dislikes nothing more than cold, wet roots over winter.

What size pot to step tuscan blue rosemary up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Tuscan Blue Rosemary stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot tuscan blue rosemary

Spring or summer, while tuscan blue rosemary is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting tuscan blue rosemary

Repot dry. Do not water tuscan blue rosemary for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty poor to average, gritty, sharply drained neutral to alkaline soil ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set tuscan blue rosemary at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep tuscan blue rosemary completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for tuscan blue rosemary

Tuscan Blue Rosemary wants poor to average, gritty, sharply drained neutral to alkaline soil. Wants lean, free-draining soil; add grit or sand to heavy ground; pH 6.0-7.5. Rich, moisture-holding soil produces soft growth and rot. In containers use a free-draining mix with added grit or perlite. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting tuscan blue rosemary — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot tuscan blue rosemary?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for tuscan blue rosemary. Repot tuscan blue rosemary every 2–3 years into a snug pot of poor to average, gritty, sharply drained neutral to alkaline soil, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does tuscan blue rosemary need?

When is the best time of year to repot tuscan blue rosemary?

Should you water tuscan blue rosemary after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot tuscan blue rosemary into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise tuscan blue rosemary after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting tuscan blue rosemary. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.